Artificial teeth.



No. 851,578. PATENTED APR. 23. 1907.

- WQO. WEST.

ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYB.19OB.

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WALTER 0. WEST, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ARTlFlClAL TEETH,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

pplication filed May 8, 1906. Srrial No. 315,783-

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Be it known that l, WALTER O. \l'asr, a

citizen of the United States, residing at .New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented anew ,Improvemcnt in Artificial Teeth, of which the following is a specilicat ion.

This invention relates to imprm'cmcnts in artificial teeth and more particularly to that class of dentistry known as crown and bridge work.

The principal objects of the invention ar to produce a tooth which requires for correctly mounting a minim um amount of skill and labor; which when in position will be firm, strong, durable and natural; and which, also, if broken, maybe removed and replaced Without removing the bridge from the mouth of the patient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing; Figure l is a. perspective view of an artificial tooth or dummy embodying m v invention and shown in the condition in which it is. marketed and there fore comes into the hands of the dentist. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is transverse or horizontal sectional view' of theesame. Fig. -11 a perspective view of the tooth or dummy after the usual platinum foil has been burnished over the cervical surface of the tooth and secured in position. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional View of the dummy thus treated. Fig. 6 shows a series of teeth arranged in position in the form of a bridge. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, the section being taken on the line 7-? of Fig. (5.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The tootlnbody 1. or what is termed the "dummy, is formed of porcelain and is pro- Vided at its opposite sides with vcrt ical channels 2, which extend toward the biting or masticating surface from the cervical end of the tooth to a point where the tooth would knuckle with the next adjacent tooth. These vertical channels in, the tooth are angular in crosssection, so that when two of such teeth thusprovii'led are arranged in rclative position side by side the channels of the teeth register and combine to produce a ver tical cavity rectangular in cross-section.

Transversely through the body of each dummy or tooth there extends a platinum or other suitable metal pin 3, said pm registerin; with the vertical channels and having its terminals or ends extending therein and terand useful minalin; about flush with the exterior of the tooth. The pin is baked in position in the tooth whereby it is immovably held and is in fact a part of the tooth.

'lhuslfar l have described the tooth as I prepare the same for use by the dentist. In order to prepare the tooth for mounting, on the bridge, for instance, it is lirst necessary to grind it to lit the cast as usual. The operator thcn'takcs a piece oi platinum, gold, or other metal foil l, (say about ili'fty gage), and sullicientlv long to extend over the cervical surface of the tooth and have its end extend a short distancc beyond the ends of the pin. One end or terminal of the foil is fhenpunctured to receive the pin and is burnished into the channel, after which it is brought over the cervical*surface, upon which it is burnished, and the opposite end or terminal of the foil is perforated to engagethe opposite end of the pin and is burnished into the 0ppositc channel. 'lhe remaining dummies or teeth are treated in a similar manner. The

several dumm es thus treated are then assembled and wax d in position, and the cast coated with shellac varnish, oiled, and invested with the grinding surfaces downward in plaster of paris. When the investment isithon oughlv set the cast is cut away, all wax boiled out,-und after pro )er heating the teeth are joined togct her by flowing solder downwardly into the inverted rectangular channels 2. When the work is thoroughly cooled off the teeth are rcmo'vcd from'the investment, the platinum foil on the cervical surfaces removed and the \voi'lc'linished in the usual manner. I

in using" said tooth for single crowns, or as piers or abutments for bridgcuvork, a cap is lirst made in anv of the approved ways to lit the root, after which the tooth is ground to fit the cap on the labial or buccal side only. 'lhc operator then burnishes the platinum foil ovcr the pins and around the cervical surface as previously described, waxes the tooth in pro icrposition on theca p, invests as before described, and solders in the usual manner.

it will be observed that when mounted in position in the mouth, the teeth will have a very natural appearance owing to thc fact thalno solder is within sight, the solder all being contained within the rectangular recesses between the teeth. This arrangement of the solder renders the bridge exceedingly strong, the teeth being prevented from rocking, in that each deposit of solder constitutes a connecting and strengiheninc key entirely out of view.

7 The channels may be given an other ungular form in cross-section, without sueri'licing the. advantages of my invention, and it desired, instez n'l of running the platinum pins entirely through the teeth I' may employ short pins, two for each teeth. 1; pref er, however, to make the channels rectangular in cross-section and also to use the single pin in each teeth or dummy.

Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A plurality of teeth each having at its inner side a vertical angular Cl12L1ll1Q-l,.tl1c channel of one tooth registering with that of the adjacentteeth, and a body of solder filling the cavity produced by the registering channels.

2. A plurality of teeth, each having at its 3. A plurality of teeth, each having it transversepin and {L longitudinally disposed clumnel, the channel of one tooth registering and combining with. that of the next adjacent. tooth to produce a cavity, a foil extending under the cervical end of the teeth and into the cavity and engaging the ends of the pin,

and it body of solder occupying the cavity and serving to secure the foil in position and lock the teeth together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

\"VALTER O. 'WECTP Witnesses: Y

A. R. BEARY, JOHN L. GOMEZ. 

